New Member W/ Synthetic Oil Question.. Advice???

[sport trac44]

Hey All,
New member, in fact this is my first post! Anyway, I've got a 2001 Explorer Sport Trac with 70k miles. I'm going to switch to synthetic oil at the next change. I've read several posts on this topic and there's lots of conflicting info... In the past, I've always had my oil changed at the local lube place. Recently, I've decided to start changing my own oil as I now have a nice garage etc. What I read on a post was that some people are going 15k and someone said 25k miles before changing their syn. oil. I did read that they are changing filters at more frequent intervals....If the intervals for my oil changes are going to go from every 3k to 5k and beyond, changing my own oil becomes very attractive.
Here's my question:
I am planning to buy Royal Purple oil and 3 of the best filters I can find. Would it be ok to change my oil and go 15k on this oil if I change the filter every 5k? If not, what would you recommend with this product.Any recommendations on a decent filter and where to buy it? Best place to buy The oil?
I will be using this oil from now on in my Sport Trac as well as my wife's Maxima so buying by the case would not be a problem.
Thanks in Advance for any & all input,
Mark

 

[CDW6212R]

Consult with others who do run the oil longer, but also read what the oil and filter companies recommend.

Filtering the oil is the key. Basically the filters will only filter for so long before they become restrictive, how long that is can be argued.

The few people who spend the money to install a bypass oil filtering system are driving 25,000 miles and more, or a year, before doing their oil. The bypass oiling systems are common on all big rigs, that's how they get 500k on those engines. The bypass filters are good to go that long, I'm not sure about the full flow filter that is also used.

Those bypass systems start at a little over $100, check with Amsoil, they are the leader of kits for us. I'm planning to do that sometime soon for my two trucks. Good luck,

 

[302Xplorer]

Personally, I would not consider doing a extended drain OCI without first having a UOA done @ 5k w/ the same oil and filter combo I plan to use.

 

[rizzjc]

Hey All,
New member, in fact this is my first post! Anyway, I've got a 2001 Explorer Sport Trac with 70k miles. I'm going to switch to synthetic oil at the next change. I've read several posts on this topic and there's lots of conflicting info... In the past, I've always had my oil changed at the local lube place. Recently, I've decided to start changing my own oil as I now have a nice garage etc. What I read on a post was that some people are going 15k and someone said 25k miles before changing their syn. oil. I did read that they are changing filters at more frequent intervals....If the intervals for my oil changes are going to go from every 3k to 5k and beyond, changing my own oil becomes very attractive.
Here's my question:
I am planning to buy Royal Purple oil and 3 of the best filters I can find. Would it be ok to change my oil and go 15k on this oil if I change the filter every 5k? If not, what would you recommend with this product.Any recommendations on a decent filter and where to buy it? Best place to buy The oil?
I will be using this oil from now on in my Sport Trac as well as my wife's Maxima so buying by the case would not be a problem.
Thanks in Advance for any & all input,
Mark

I think it depends on what the Royal Purple rates their oil for, and also on an oil analysis. I frequently went 10k-15k (about 1x per year) with Amsoil, with no oil analysis. I've gone slightly longer WITH oil analysis, but my engine is older now, and the analysis typically tells me that 12k-15k in my case is about the max I can do. The newest Amsoil Ea filters are rated at the full 1 year interval, so you wouldn't need to change it in between like with the old filters. But going that long I'd recommend an analysis at a few intervals to see what it recommends. That's what I do on my newer cars now.

 

[sport trac44]

Personally, I would not consider doing a extended drain OCI without first having a UOA done @ 5k w/ the same oil and filter combo I plan to use.
..........Ummmmmmm What? Not sure what the OCI and UOA are.... Seriously though, thanks for all input.
BTW, I wasn't planning on adding the bypass oil Filtering System. I was just going to change filters every 5k. I guess I need to check w/ the oil company.
Finally, does anyone think that it would be fine to run 10k between oil changes w/ a filter change (good filter) every 5k?
-Mark

 

[CDW6212R]

Well the cost of a new filter and the oil is why I plan to use the bypass system. You can probably go 20k or more by changing a quart and the filter every 5k.

Ask Al here, the math of the cost for changing yearly the oil and two filters is about the same as the several filters plus oil every 5k. The gain I am after is the savings of labor. I have two vehicles that I typically put 20k on per year, that's quite a few oil changes per year for me. Good luck,

 

[Anime]

The Royal Purple FAQ at http://www.royalpurple.com/techa/faqsa.html says it's oil can be used up to 12,000 miles, or annually, whichever comes first. You'll need to change the filter every 3,000-5,000 miles, though, and fill the engine with whatever amount came out with the filter.

You'll definitely want to do the first few changes at a shorter interval, though. Switching to a synthetic will usually dislodge stuff most conventional oil leaves behind, and you don't want to be running dirty oil, synthetic or not, for 12,000 miles.

I'd say a Motorcraft filter is a good one since you'll be changing it more often than the oil anyway, or you could get a Mobil 1 filter, they're pretty good too. You can get the 5W-30 Royal Purple oil at many Wal-Mart stores now. Otherwise, shop around. Some auto parts stores carry it, as do local hi-performance shops. You can find dealers through the Royal Purple website as well.

 

[sport trac44]

Thanks for all of your input.... I think w/ the first oil change I'll go around 3k change it, then 6k, change it and then go for 12k.
Thanks Again,
Mark

 

[2013Sploder]

I'm a believer in the advantages of synth, is far superior than dino oil, just my opinion, especially if you live in a cold climate, anywhere up north. Don't want to get into what brand is best, that's a sure fire recipe for inviting a barrage of posts, people will go round and round declaring that their fave brand is best, easier to avoid specific brands by name and start up the inevitable "which brand is best" fire storm, no doubt. I have my fave, but again, just don't care to invite trouble by stating my brand preference. But, along those same lines, I'd encourage you to look up aftermarket oil bypass filtration kits, if longevity of your vehicle is a goal; these kits are a staple in the trucking industry, keep the oil far cleaner than a stock oil filter can provide, thus providing for longer oil change intervals as well. These systems do not replace your stock oil filter, they work in conjunction with them, drawing off a small amount of oil, and filtering it through a far superior filtering media (like a micron or two vs. the stock filter's 20-25 micron rating), then returning the superior cleaned oil back to the regular oil supply. Good stuff, worth the cost indeed, in my opinion.